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At the Florida Man Games, big crowds cheer competitors evading police, wrestling over beer
apnews.com ^ | February 24, 2024 | RUSS BYNUM

Posted on 02/25/2024 6:44:45 AM PST by V_TWIN

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. They rose up by the dozens from across Florida, caricatured competitors in tank tops and cutoff shorts, for a showdown that treats evading police and wrestling over beer like Olympic sports. Promoted as “the most insane athletic showdown on Earth,” the Florida Man Games poke fun at the state’s reputation for bizarre stories that involve brawling, drinking, gunfire, reptile wrangling and other antics carrying a risk of time in jail or intensive care. The games kicked off Saturday with the “Star Spangled Banner” played on electric guitar. Then spectators sipping canned beers behind metal barricades cheered and frequently shouted expletives as a dozen teams battled in contests inspired by real events from America’s most surreal state. At the Florida Man Games, big crowds cheer competitors evading police, wrestling over beer They rose up by the dozens from across Florida, caricatured competitors in tank tops and cutoff shorts, for a showdown that treats evading police and wrestling over beer like Olympic sports. They rose up by the dozens from across Florida, caricatured competitors in tank tops and cutoff shorts, for a showdown that treats evading police and wrestling over beer like Olympic sports. Promoted as “the most insane athletic showdown on Earth,” the Florida Man Games poke fun at the state’s reputation for bizarre stories that involve brawling, drinking, gunfire, reptile wrangling and other antics carrying a risk of time in jail or intensive care. The games kicked off Saturday with the “Star Spangled Banner” played on electric guitar. Then spectators sipping canned beers behind metal barricades cheered and frequently shouted expletives as a dozen teams battled in contests inspired by real events from America’s most surreal state. James Gordon of DeLand won the first event, wolfing down a plate loaded with barbecue pork and sausage.

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...


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1 posted on 02/25/2024 6:44:45 AM PST by V_TWIN
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To: V_TWIN

He chugged a beer to celebrate. “I’ve lived in Florida my whole life,” Gordon said after washing sauce from his hands and beard. “They’re calling these ‘events.’ I’m calling this (expletive) Tuesday afternoon.” One event had contenders dueling in muddy water in an inflatable pool, pummeling each other with weapons made from pool noodles and duct tape. Another was a theft-simulation relay in which competitors raced while toting a pair of bicycles, copper pipes and catalytic converters. Larry Donnelly trained for the relay race by riding a bicycle around his neighborhood with a second bike strapped to his back. It paid off Saturday, when he won his heat after picking up a bike in each hand and running with them. “I have an absolute disregard for self-preservation. I will do anything,” said Donnelly, 42, who owns a St. Augustine pressure-washing business and serves as captain of the five-man team Hanky Spanky. “When I was in the military, I did a little alligator wrestling.” Other events involved contenders wrestling sumo-style while holding pitchers of beer, or running from actual sheriff’s deputies while jumping fences and avoiding obstacles. Others faced a scramble to grab cash flying in simulated hurricane winds.


2 posted on 02/25/2024 6:45:00 AM PST by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave!)
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To: V_TWIN

Now that is funny.


3 posted on 02/25/2024 6:51:07 AM PST by bray (You can tell who the Commies fear.)
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To: V_TWIN

Somehow, I bet this catches on.


4 posted on 02/25/2024 6:58:47 AM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: V_TWIN

Some of these should definitely be added to the Summer Olympics.


5 posted on 02/25/2024 7:02:15 AM PST by Sirius Lee (Tonight on The Bickersons... )
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To: V_TWIN

Wicks from omgitswicks youtube channel was host of this. He’ll probably have lots of videos later. His channel is very funny! Check it out!


6 posted on 02/25/2024 7:03:06 AM PST by BamaBelle
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To: V_TWIN
Larry the Cable Guy is jealous...


7 posted on 02/25/2024 7:03:21 AM PST by moovova ("The NEXT election is the most important election of our lifetimes!“ LOL...)
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To: V_TWIN

Though the separations between paragraphs were missed, I thought this one was interesting:

*** Florida’s claim to being the strangest state goes back much further, said journalist Craig Pittman, who wrote the book “Oh, Florida! How America’s Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country.” He noted that the first flag to fly over its Capitol in 1845 bore the motto “Let Us Alone.”***

“Leave me alone” is often how I feel about the federal government intruding into my life. Now I understand where I might have gotten that from.


8 posted on 02/25/2024 7:05:08 AM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: V_TWIN

9 posted on 02/25/2024 7:06:01 AM PST by EEGator
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To: V_TWIN

10 posted on 02/25/2024 7:11:34 AM PST by Allegra (Less propaganda would be appreciated. )
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To: V_TWIN

This is how we roll in the Gunshine state. :^)


11 posted on 02/25/2024 7:21:31 AM PST by FLT-bird
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To: V_TWIN

“...copper pipes and catalytic converters...”

LOL — that’s a nice touch


12 posted on 02/25/2024 7:23:35 AM PST by Yardstick
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To: bray

I just texted my travel buddy.
Next year in St Augustine

The story’s an absolute howler


13 posted on 02/25/2024 7:31:26 AM PST by j.havenfarm (23 years on Free Republic, 12/22/23! More than 8,000 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: Sirius Lee

Next year’s game will include,
Who can cook up meth the fastest
Who grows the best weed
How to rip out a cat. converter the fastest
Night hunting for deer
Opposum juggling
Steal a car in under a minute
Making a crack pipe
Spotting the difference between a cop and a hooker
Hitting your wife without leaving any marks.
How to fish with dynamite


14 posted on 02/25/2024 7:34:14 AM PST by Keyhopper (Indians had bad immigration laws)
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To: V_TWIN

bttt

:-)


15 posted on 02/25/2024 7:44:20 AM PST by pax_et_bonum (“Killer rabbit jokes have a long tradition in medieval literature.“ - Dr. James Wade)
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To: FamiliarFace

Yeah, sorry about that, I had a hard time getting the excerpt to post so I jammed it together.


16 posted on 02/25/2024 7:46:58 AM PST by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave!)
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To: Keyhopper

All great suggestions 😁👍


17 posted on 02/25/2024 7:49:54 AM PST by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave!)
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To: V_TWIN

No worries. I got by.


18 posted on 02/25/2024 7:51:40 AM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Yardstick

“...copper pipes and catalytic converters...”

I’m kinda thinking that’s more of a ‘hood competition, don’t ya think?


19 posted on 02/25/2024 7:54:01 AM PST by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave!)
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To: V_TWIN
All-American male fun.

We need more of this.

20 posted on 02/25/2024 7:57:29 AM PST by thescourged1 (Who put this tagline here?)
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